The Black and Decker 40V MAX Lithium 20 In. Mower (CM2040) is a cordless electric mower that's quiet and easy to maneuver, but it could use a little more power.

Cordless electric lawn mowers offer a clean, quiet way to keep your lawn looking its best, but not all models are created equal. The $399.99 Black and Decker 40V MAX Lithium 20 In. Mower (CM2040) is a relatively affordable cordless mower that delivers enough power for small lawns of medium thickness, but it may not be the best choice for homeowners with big, thick yards. The CM2040 uses a 40-volt Lithium battery and is much lighter than a typical gas-powered mower, but the battery only gives you around 30 minutes of cutting time, and it takes hours to regain a full charge. On the plus side, the mower comes with two batteries. If you need more power with shorter charging times the EGO Power+ Mower (LM2001) is our Editors' Choice.

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Design and Features With its orange housing, black 20-inch cutting deck, and streamlined dimensions, the CM2040 isn't quite as eye-catching as the EGO Power+ LM2011, but it's still a sharp-looking mower. At 43.5 pounds it's around 13 pounds lighter than the EGO LM2001, and around 50 pounds lighter than most 20-inch gas-powered mowers.

The CM2040's variable-speed electric motor uses Black and Decker's AutoSense Technology to change speeds depending on grass thickness. It's powered by a 40-volt Lithium battery rated for 2.5Ah (Amp hours). The battery measures 2.5 by 3.0 by 5.0 inches (HWD), weighs 1.6 pounds, and can be used with other Black and Decker cordless lawn and garden tools. Pressing a button at the top of the battery shows how much charge it is currently holding (25, 50, 75, or 100 percent). The mower comes with two batteries, a charger, and a three-year warranty (the EGO LM2001, by comparison, comes with a five-year warranty).

In the center of the mower is a battery compartment shielded by a black cover, and behind that is a smaller, covered storage compartment that holds the second battery (you need to swap the second battery in when the first one dies). The handle has four quick release levers that allow you to fold it down to save space while in storage. It also has a removable safety key, a push-button starter, and a bail handle that shuts down the motor when released. To start the mower, simply press the button and pull back the bail handle. A height adjustment handle allows you to choose one of six settings ranging from 1.5 to 4 inches. There's a side discharge chute for use with an included mulching attachment, and a rear chute that uses a 15-gallon clippings bag (also included).

Performance The CM2040 had no trouble handling my backyard lawn, which is fairly new and had grown to around three inches. It also handled my front lawn, which is moderately thick and around two inches in height, with relative ease. However, when I used it on my neighbor's Zoysia grass lawn, which is very thick and straw-like, it seemed to struggle and stalled several times. This also happened with the EGO Power+ LM2001, but not as often. Additionally, the CM2040 left a fair amount of clippings on the ground while cutting the thicker lawn. That said, it was a bit quieter than the LM2001, and its lightweight frame made it easy to maneuver.

The batteries are rated for 30 minutes of power each, and that's pretty much what I got out of them before having to recharge. One of my biggest gripes with this mower has to do with the charger; it takes two hours to recharge a completely drained battery. The LM2001 charger gets you back up to a full charge in around 30 minutes.

Conclusion If you're a fan of electric lawn mowers but want to cut the cord, the Black and Decker 40V MAX Lithium 20 In. Mower (CM2040) is a solid choice. It's quiet, lightweight, and powerful enough to handle most small lawns, but it struggles with the thick stuff. Although it comes with two batteries you'll only get around half an hour of charge from each, and recharging takes quite a while. If battery life and charging time is a deal breaker, check out the EGO Power+ Mower LM2001, our Editors' Choice. It costs $100 more than the CM2040 and only comes with one battery, but it's a big 56-volt battery that provides 45 minutes of cutting time and even more cutting power. And if you just want to sit back and watch your lawn get mowed for you, the Robomow RS622 robotic mower will get the job done and automatically recharges itself, but it carries a hefty $1,600 price tag.

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About the Author

As a Contributing Editor for PCMag, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing monitors, TVs, PCs, networking and smart home gear, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for almost 20 years. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of t... See Full Bio

Black and Decker 40V MAX Lithiu...

Black and Decker 40V MAX Lithium 20 In. Mower (CM20...

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